a violent scene in this area, dozens of young man bound and shot in the head were found in the city of aleppo. they are celebrating in timbuktu. sharia laws goes as french forces liberated the city from rebels. we speak with secretary of state clinton just days before she steps down as america's top diplomat. welcome to our viewers on public television in america and also around the globe. syria is breaking up before everyone's eyes, that was the warning issued by the u.n. media specialist as he briefed the security council. on the ground, there is fresh evidence of the terror is taking

place. the bodies of at least 65 men believed to be the victims of a mass execution have been found dumped by the side of a river in the syrian city of aleppo. >> one of the most gruesome discoveries in nearly two years of horror in syria. body after body caked in mud, sprawled on the bank near the city center. dozens of them, all men, all shot through the head. some of them clearly with their hands bound. some of the victims were recognized but many remain identified for the moment. they were found in an area controlled by the rebels. activists had no doubt that the killings were the work of regime forces took the government officials said the victims had been kidnapped and killed by armed rebels. the rebels themselves are advancing in the east of the

country. after a fierce battle, they overran a government intelligence headquarters, setting free a number of prisoners. but, the regime has been hitting back hard in many areas. around damascus, homs, hamaa. might have lost a lot of the all areas but they are determined to hang on to the big cities and strike out from there. bashar al-assad is being reported as telling visitors that the army has regained the initiative on the ground and has scored some important successes that will become apparent soon. as another sign that the regime has life in it, his british wife is also pregnant. >> this conflict and syria is going to be one of the most pressing problems waiting for senator john kerry as he takes over as secretary of state. today, his colleagues of a woman reconfirm him to succeed hillary clinton.

before she goes, a secretary clinton sat down with our state department correspondent. >> what i believe is that the u.s. has played an indefensible role in working to help establish an opposition coalition, something that is very important as we found in libya, which was not being accomplished until the u.s. played a much greater role in helping to bring that out. channeling humanitarian aid. the president has announced more aid which brings our total to the highest in the world. this will go to organizations that rightly have to work with the assad regime. >> >> we will bring you more of that as soon as we can. the army chief is warning that the current protests could lead

to the collapse of the state and threaten future generations. that assessment comes after days of fighting that claimed at least 50 lives. the army has been deployed in three cities along the suez canal although some protesters ignored the core few -- the curfew that is in place. >> the suez canal looking so tranquil and unaffected. cities on its banks have become the focus of egypt's turmoil. suez itself has had a state of emergency imposed and troops have been deployed after the deadliest time of protests since the revolution. this is one of the many grieving for those lost in the violence. was shot in the stomach as he and france went to join in the protests. >> i keep thinking of him lying

and that hospital beds. he might wake up. i hunted him and hug him. he urged those thinking of going out to protest again to consider the parents they leave devastated if they died. even though the president announced a curfew here, he found opposition supporters planning to defy it. they have not materialized >> we're not afraid of death any more. i've seen so much blood with my own eyes. we cannot change the situation, cannot live with dignity. that is better. >> the protesters did take to the streets just before the curfew came into force. you can see what these people think of the curfew.

we have seen them singing, dancing, chanting, setting off fireworks right in front of tanks. they say they will keep coming out into the streets. whatever the consequences, until steps down.rsi the army chose not to intervene this time, there is no long-term solution in sight. more trouble will almost certainly visit this city. >> continuing unrest in egypt. warnings from the head of the military. let's take a look at some of the other stories. a suicide bomber has blown himself up near the presidential palace in somalia. two soldiers were killed in the blast. the attacker is thought to be a member of the islamist groups

al-sabah us. >> -- devastating weather is causing problems in queensland. military and civilian helicopters have carried out more than 1000 rescues. a bus and train have collided in northern china killing at least nine people and injuring 30 others. road deaths are a major problem in china. officials suggest there was more than 200,000 serious traffic accidents last year alone. the real figure could be much higher than that. there is cheering and dancing in the desert city of timbuktu tonight. just a day after french forces liberated the city from atlantic rebels, there also leaves and reprisals. as western governments way their

involvement in the operation, the long-term security in the north of the country is still in doubt. >> dancing on the streets. the relief is clear as french and local troops took back at the desert town and opposed. already, there has been looting and retributions as angry crowds threatened to kill those that fought for the islamists. they will try to wage a deadly insurgency. preventing that will be up to african troops, for molly and its neighbors. they're looking to raise money for the african mission which will include british military trainers. the defense secretary has spelled it out but has not commented on it. >> france has made it clear that they see a short intervention to

stabilize the situation on the ground while the african forces from neighboring countries and the army have deployed to sustain the situation in the longer term. >> senior military figures say that uk's support is in the national interest. >> failed states bring with them instability. the prime ministers have touched on this, that molly might be in the middle of nowhere, at timbuktu used to be known. what happens in a global world if the jihadists were to take over the country as a whole. they would not end there. >> timbuktu has gratitude for western help. there were stories of beatings, fear, and repression. today are reminders that the

jihadists role is being obliterated but the final battles not yet won. >> finding those jihadi is will be the next challenge for the french military. you are watching bbc world is america -- president obama hits the road in the hopes of selling changes and america's immigration policy. an american soldier who lost all four limbs were all serving in iraq has been speaking about his remarkable recovery after receiving a double on transplant. >> on the move, preparing to leave the hospital, a wounded warrior who has battled back from horrific injuries sustained in iraq. a 26-year-old is the recipient of an extremely rare double armed transplant. >> i can move my elbows, my elbow, the one i had before.

i can rotate a little bit. >> he was asked whether he could comprehend the idea of using someone else's hands. >> i am so we can. i never really except of the fact that didn't have arms. now that have them again, it is almost like it happened. >> he served in the u.s. army, driving trucks. his vehicle was the target of a roadside bomb outside of baghdad. he lost all four limbs and at first it regained some mobility using prosthetic arms and legs. last month's transplants took 40 hours to complete. >> i suspect that he will be using his hands for just about everything as soon as we let him start trying to do more and more. right now, we are holding him back at this point so he can let all this tissues heal. >> an inspiring story at a time when a whole new generation of

wounded soldiers is coming. what message does he have for others? >> do not give up hope. life always is better when you are live, be stubborn. be stubborn, do it anyway, work your off to do it. >> he will be working this car next and who was to doubt him? what's hot on the heels of a group of american senators, president obama has rolled out his own plan for dealing with america pause immigration problem. speaking in las vegas, he said that immigration reform must include a pathway to citizenship for the 11 million people living in america illegally. >> he is here, he is president.

he is a tremendous support with a latino voters. a promise to help illegal immigrants become americans. >> i'm here because the time has come for common-sense, comprehensive immigration reform. >> that might be music to the ears of those in the streets of laredo, through this texting -- a part of the nearly 2,000 miles of border. there is an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the states. the vast majority from mexico. for years, it has been an intractable problem. some things are changing. some might have a better chance of success. many have come across the border illegally.

also, republicans are having a very serious briefing, wondering whether their attitude towards immigration costs them vital latino votes. >> this is rich, anglo, isolated, judgmental. >> this is a republican and a veteran of six presidential campaigns but mitt romney did not verify to call. he's making a television ad to convince conservatives to back changes including to allow illegal workers to become american citizens. you have to become more welcoming. you have to be the party that says, yes, we are what america was founded on. we welcome everybody.

>> at the old as country music venue in texas, it is clear that republicans might have trouble changing. >> if you are sneaking into the country and you don't have the proper identification, resources, then, it is illegal and i like it. >> before you come over the border, you should be cleared to come over the border, correct? how would you like me to go over to britain and take one of your jobs? >> latinos are america's fastest-growing economic group. pleasing them by force the politicians to forge an agreement. >> for more on immigration proposals that have been put forward, i'm joined now from new york by an investigative journalist. thank you very much for joining me. no one has managed to tackle immigration reform in this country since look reagan. do you think i can do it?

>> i think that there is hope that he can do it. having covered this issue as a journalist come at a surprising that there is a very little in terms of the deep broad issues. it is fascinating but the line was that is being used as to what is happening in 1986. we have to talk about this in ways that really go deeper. i'm quite disappointed in both of the proposals. >> would you talk to me about what mark found in texas? that fear that some americans have about immigrants. america is a nation of immigrants. you would think that a country that was founded on this would be opened to the idea of immigration reform.

>> we actually have to look at this through the numbers. this is from the state of texas comptroller. what they found was that an undocumented immigrants contributed 17 billion in the texas economy at a cost of 1.5 billion. when you are talking about the economic argument, economists say we need to legalize undocumented immigrants. when you leave immigration in this kind of tenuis way, a path to citizenship, people want to know what are the specifics. what does that look like? right now, getting at the end of the line is 110 years back. so, there's something missing in

terms of really going deep and frankly in terms of the president. this would be a moment to say let's look at who we are as an immigrant country. more money is spent on immigration enforcement than any other law enforcement combined. >> understand the argument you're making and the business community over woman the supports you. they want this immigration reform, they want people who are here illegally to be given citizenship. what i'm trying to get at is there is clearly opposition to this reform. we heard it in that peace and we hear it all of the time from conservatives in the country who say there cannot be amnesty for people who are here was broken the law. >> well, and that is the why we're having this conversation. there has been an analysis that

just says, if we continue to take this position, given the numbers of what's happened with demographics, -- by the way, not all immigrants are latinos. they're the biggest group. >> the fastest growing group is actually asian americans. >> ok, but the point is that whether or not republicans actually say, well, we have to take a look at this and the liver, what does that mean? will there be a path to citizenship? let's have the conversation become more national so that everyone can kind of come forward and say that we aren't comfortable with the fact that people have been in this country without documents. let's have that conversation but let's go deeper as opposed to a band-aid. >> thank you so much for joining us from new york. this conversation will go on for quite a long time in america. they are one of the world's most

influential rock groups. they have to also be one of the oldest. the who became famous for their energetic performances. pete townshend and rodger adultery are the only surviving members of the group but proving perhaps age is no limit to vigor, they are planning a return for this summer. >> this is the story of a boy who sees himself as part of the band. after the album made it to number two in the u.k. charts, the story was turned into a film. >> we are doing a lot of shows here. i wanted to play in my home country. i think this is a quintessential british peace. i wanted to be able to because

it is so great. >> it has been nearly 15 years -- 50 years since the who first got together. hard on their heels, the beatles and the rolling stones. they were not only the lightest rock'n'roll band also the most rebellious. two of the members have died rock star deaths. the other two are keen to keep rocking. >> what is the relationship between the two? there was a lot of stuff in the past, there was a tense relationship between you. >> there still is, isn't there? >> i am waiting for roger to die. >> we have had a few raised voices, even lately. i cannot imagine being more lucky, either of us, really, to get to this place. we are both pushing and we have this great music and we can

gather. the aura of the band, whoever we take on the stage, we are so lucky. we're lucky to be friends in our lives and having roughly the same direction. >> the drunken rampages which earned them bans from all the major hotel chains are a thing of the past. life on the road by there and admission is a little bit more sedate. >> at do you ever have the desire to three television through a hotel window? "we don't argue with their television -- >> we don't argue with our television sets anymore. i could not get them off the wall if i wanted to. >> despite the fact that they qualify for a bus pass, the group that sang "i hope i die before i get old" hopes to be

rocking ball into their 70's. >> beat and rogers still going strong. returning now to our interview with hillary clinton. today, our state department correspondent sat down with her and she asked the question that everyone was wondering, what comes next? >> thank you very much for talking to the bbc during your last week as secretary of state. on monday, february fourth, you will wake up and for the first time in 20 years you will be unemployed. are you going to sleep all day or watch television? >> i am waiting to find out because it is not just the last 20 years, i've had a job or been in school full time since i was 13. i'm really interested in seeing whether i can roll over and go back to sleep or whether it is so ingrained in me, i will pop up and wonder what to do that day. i'm looking forward to it. toto of the most common things my colleagues say to me is that

they had no idea how tired they were. i have a pretty good idea how tired i have been trying to do all i could on behalf of the obama administration and our country. i want to catch up on sleep, movies, watch a lot of home- improvement television, takes a long walks, spend time with my family and my friends. >> hillary clinton, the u.s. secretary of state, on her last days in office. that brings to days, -- broadcast to a close. you can watch bbc on it our 24 hour news channel. if you like to reach me, you can find me on twitter. for all of us, thank you so much for watching.

>> make sense of international news at bbc.com/news. >> funding of this presentation is made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu, newman's own foundation, and union bank. >> at union bank, our relationship managers work hard to understand the industry you operate in, working to nurture new ventures and help provide capital for key, strategic decisions. we offer expertise and tailored solutions in a wide range of industries. what can we do for you? >> "bbc world news" was presented by kcet, los angeles.

captioning sponsored by macneil/lehrer productions >> woodruff: president obama pushed today for an overhaul of immigration laws, and endorsed

the bipartisan plan announced by a group of senators yesterday. good evening. i'm judy woodruff. >> ifill: and i'm gwen ifill. on the newshour tonight, we get two views of the immigration debate and the potential political hurdles ahead. >> woodruff: then, kwame holman reports on the budget crisis facing former senator chuck hagel if he's confirmed as the next secretary of defense. >> when he takes office, the first challenge he has is he'll be in the middle of the sequester fight meaning an automatic across-the-board cut for the defense budget and every other federal budget that is supposed to happen march 1. >> ifill: and we look at the big money groups supporting and attacking hagel's nomination. >> woodruff: we have two takes on the war in mali, an on-the- ground report from the newly liberated town of gao... >> ifill: ...and an update on the destruction of ancient manuscripts in the fabled city of timbuktu. >> woodruff: and we close with the story of a soldier who underwent a succes r